TWO men have been given suspended jail terms for their involvement in a late-night brawl in Basingstoke town centre.

Jonathan Crockwell was one of three men to kick another man while he lay on the ground in Albert Yard car park, on January 26 this year.

Another group of men, including Marcus Cole, then chased Crockwell to Castons car park and knocked him to the ground before kicking him repeatedly, Winchester Crown Court was told.

Both Crockwell, 23, and Cole, 20, were in the dock for sentence having admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. CCTV footage of the brawl was shown in court.

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, said the brawl started when Crockwell began swearing and acting aggressively towards a man called James Jupp, who was chatting to a girl by a kebab van in Albert Yard.

He said: “A punch was thrown by Mr Jupp at Crockwell at which point, two of Crockwell’s associates took Mr Jupp to the ground and he was kicked by them and once by Crockwell.”

Mr Shaw said Crockwell could be seen on the video taking off his belt and acting aggressively while Mr Jupp lay prone on the ground.

The video then showed Crockwell running across New Road into Castons car park, followed by a large group of men who then knocked him to the ground and kicked out at him.

Cole could be seen aiming several kicks at Crockwell as he lay on the ground before a police car arrived.

Mr Jupp, who the court heard was knocked unconscious in the initial attack, needed treatment for a split lip and cuts to his head. Crockwell suffered a chipped tooth which led to an abscess.

Judge Jonathan Fuller said the brawl was a “disgraceful exhibition of public violence”, and added Crockwell’s aggressive behaviour “caused the flare-up”.

He sentenced Crockwell, of Chopin Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work.

Cole, of Delibes Road, Old Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a three-month curfew and £200 costs.